Health Information, Health Promotion, and Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendments of 1991
Public Law 102-168 · H.R. 3402 · 102nd Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 26, 1991 · Health
Sponsor: Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA-24)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Gerald Sikorski
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Health Information, Health Promotion, and Vaccine Injury Compensation Amendments of 1991 - Title I: Health Information and Health Promotion - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations to carry out specified provisions relating to health information and health promotion.
Title II: Vaccine Injury Compensation - Amends the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 to remove provisions making the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program ineffective when there are insufficient funds to pay all claims payable under the Program.
Extends to January 1, 1993, the due date for an evaluation of the Program.
Increases the amount of time the special master may, because of the workload, suspend proceedings on any petition associated with the administration of vaccines before the effective date of the Program.
Modifies procedures in the event a special master fails to make certain decisions or a U.S. Claims Court fails to enter certain judgments within specified time limits.
Requires certain compensation for injury before the effective date of the Program to be paid from appropriations in a lump sum (currently, paid in four equal installments) from which the special master may purchase an annuity or take other actions. Regulates purchase of such an annuity.
Modifies requirements regarding decisionmaking procedures of the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Health and Environment Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.
- Nov 26, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-168.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 14, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 12, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- Nov 5, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Waxman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Oct 24, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Oct 8, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Oct 2, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Oct 1, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Sep 24, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.